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Connecticut State Senator Edwin A. Gomes believes he’s not qualified to vote on contracts negotiated between the governor and public employee unions. That, even though state law requires a legislative vote. Of course, for years, Democrats have sidestepped going on the record to vote for the contracts, and if 30 days go by without a vote, the contracts automatically become law. But with the Republicans now sharing power in the Senate with their counterparts, the days of not voting on contracts, at least for now, are gone.

“Who the hell am I to negate it (contracts),” Sen. Gomes, a Bridgeport Democrat told the Sunday Republican newspaper of Waterbury. Gomes insists lawmakers should respect the contracts that were negotiated and not get involved in the process, even though billions of taxpayers dollars are at stake. The paper reports Gomes is a longtime international representative for the United Steelworkers of America, so that may be the real reason he doesn’t want to get involved. Besides, what’s a few billion dollars of taxpayers money?

For years Republicans have argued the Democrats, as the majority party in the Connecticut General Assembly, have prevented contracts negotiated between the governor and state employee unions from coming up for a vote. If no action is taken by the legislature 30 days after the contracts have been submitted to that body, they automatically become law. With the state Senate now evenly divided between the two parties, an influential Democrat is admitting votes could be held.

“I think with the way the legislature is set up now, and the way current thinking is there are likely to be votes on contracts,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk told Republican American newspaper writer Paul Hughes.

Meanwhile, there is resistance in the Democrat-controlled House to bring contracts up for a vote.

As the new General Assembly session begins, is it politics as usual? Just minutes after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in his State of the State address that the 2016 elections demonstrated a disconnect between voters and government, Democrats in the state House of Representatives voted down a Republican amendment that would have required a vote on state union contracts. The tally was along party lines, 78-72.

Under the current arrangement, the governor negotiates contracts with the unions then submits them to the legislature. If no vote is taken in 30 days, the contracts becomes law. Republicans for years have demanded a vote, claiming Democrats, as the majority party, avoid voting to not be on the record as supporting the union contracts. The GOP and others maintain the contracts have put Connecticut into a continual budget deficit.

After day one, it seems as if its business as usual, at least in the House, where Democrats have a narrow lead.

Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier is taking on her own party over the issue of union contracts. The long time Democrat says the General Assembly should vote on the latest union package negotiated between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state union leadership. The governor and union renegotiated the union pension funds to help alleviate Connecticut’s recurring budget deficits, but there is some concern the new deal essentially pushes the debt obligations onto the next generation. Nappier is among those expressing those fears, although she did offer some praise over the deal on Thursday. Now she wants the legislature to vote.

For years Democrats in the General Assembly refused to take a vote on contracts agreed to by the governor and unions, for fear of voter backlash once lawmakers’ votes are on the record. With Democrats controlling both chambers, votes have not been taken. If no vote is taken after 30 days, the contract automatically becomes law. Republicans have supported votes on union deals.